Diagnostic Value of SPECT/CT Bone Imaging in Fresh Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) bone imaging in fresh osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Materials And Methods: The imaging data of 30 patients with osteoporosis (10 males and 20 females; aged 50~93 years) who received SPECT/CT bone imaging and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in our hospital from June 2018 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Single photon emission tomography/CT bone imaging and spinal MRI were analyzed by two experienced specialists. Kappa consistency test and pairing were used for the diagnostic results of the two groups χ test (McNemar test) for statistical analysis.

Results: Fifty one vertebral fractures were detected in 30 patients, including 41 fresh vertebral fractures and 10 old vertebral fractures by SPECT/CT bone imaging; MRI revealed 40 fresh vertebral fractures and 11 old vertebral fractures. Single photon emission tomography/CT bone imaging and spinal MRI had good consistency in the diagnosis of fresh osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (Kappa=0.820, P<0.001), and there was no significant difference between the two imaging methods in the diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (P=1.000).

Conclusion: The value of SPECT/CT in the localization and characterization of osteoporotic fresh vertebral compression fractures is similar to that of MRI. At the same time, SPECT/CT can also find some bone lesions that cannot be displayed by conventional MRI. Especially when patients have MRI contraindications, SPECT/CT bone imaging can be used as the preferred imaging method.